Wales is punching above its weight and the Welsh Government’s new programme for government will make it a fairer and more prosperous country over the next five years, according to Carwyn Jones.

Setting out his priorities, the First Minister said the relentless focus would be on:

driving improvement in the Welsh economy and public services

delivering a Wales which is prosperous and secure

healthy and active

ambitious and learning

united and connected.

He confirmed that Welsh Labour’s key election pledges had been maintained despite the uncertainty caused by the Brexit vote, including the commitment to create at least 100,000 all-age apprenticeships and the development of the South Wales Metro.

Economy and public services

Mr Jones said: “My vision of government is simple – enabling people to live healthy and fulfilled lives and make the most of every opportunity, and supporting them when help is needed most.”

He said a critical five years lay ahead: “The UK’s withdrawal from the EU creates some uncertainty and challenges, but our mandate is clear.

Carwyn's five-year plan

"The Welsh Government’s relentless focus will be on driving improvement in our economy and public services, which are together the bedrock of people’s daily lives,” he said.

“Taking Wales Forward [the title of the programme for government] outlines our key priorities for delivering those improvements.

"They are ambitious measures, aimed at making a difference for everyone, at every stage in their lives.

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"Together we can build a Wales that is more confident, more equal, better skilled and more resilient.

"As a country we have punched above our weight, and now we are ready to do more.

"I want to see a Wales which is prosperous and secure, healthy and active, ambitious and learning, united and connected. This is the Wales we are determined to build over the coming five years.”

More support for business

The key commitments include providing more support for businesses, including smaller bills for 70,000 firms and reducing business rates bills to zero for half of all eligible companies.

The “most generous childcare offer anywhere in the UK” will provide 30 hours free childcare a week for working parents of three and four year olds, 48 weeks of the year.

A minimum of 100,000 “high quality, all age apprenticeships” will help people get back into work, and further job opportunities will be created by the Cardiff City Region Deal, a similar deal for Swansea and a Growth Deal for North Wales.

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More housing

An extra 20,000 affordable homes will be created, including 6,000 homes through the Help to Buy scheme.

Farming and the environment

The Welsh Government is committed to “work with partners to secure a prosperous future for Welsh agriculture”.

(Image: Getty/ Matthew Dixon)

It will also make progress towards the goal of reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 80% by 2050, invest in the skills required for the green economy, promote green growth and innovation and continue to invest in flood defence work and take further action to improve the management of water in our environment.

Health services

Health services will get better, says the government, by continuing to improve access to GP surgeries, making it easier to get an appointment, as well as Increasing investment in facilities to reduce waiting times and exploit digital technologies to help speed up the diagnosis of illness.

The Welsh Ambulance Service's clinical model pilot has been extended for another six months

A new treatment fund will be introduced to give people fast access to new and innovative treatments and work to end the post-code lottery for drugs and treatments not routinely available from the NHS.

There will be investment in healthcare staff by taking action to attract and train more GPs, nurses and other health professionals across Wales, and to ensure more nurses, in more settings, through an extended nurse staffing levels law.

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Mental health treatment, support, prevention and de-escalation will be improved, and there will be an increase access in access to talking therapies.

The amount of capital people can keep when entering residential care will go up to £50,000.

Education improvements

An extra £100m to drive up school standards over the next five years will be made available, and nearly £2bn will be invested in new and refurbished schools, community schools and college buildings by 2024.

Ways of ensuring looked after children enjoy the same life chances as other children will be considered, and if necessary the way they are looked after will be reformed.

Transport and infrastructure

A South Wales Metro will be created and the development of a North Wales Metro system will be advanced. A new, not-for-profit, rail franchise from 2018 will be awarded and a more effective network of bus services will be implemented once powers have been devolved.

Living wage and zero hour contracts

The Welsh Government also intends to repeal sections of the UK Government’s trades union legislation, with further action taken on the Living Wage and limiting the use of zero hours contracts, as well as tackling other rogue and bad practices.

Broadband

High-speed fibre optic broadband

Fast reliable broadband will be offered to every property in Wales.

Council tax

The government will work with local government to review council tax to make it fairer so that people with low and moderately valued properties pay less than they do now, and to provide funding to put in place a floor for future local government settlements.

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Welsh language

It will also continue to invest in encouraging more people to use and speak Welsh in their everyday lives and work towards one million people speaking the language by 2050.

What the Conservatives think of it

Welsh Conservatives criticised what they described as Mr Jones’ “delusional” claim that Wales was punching above its weight under a Labour government.

Their leader Andrew RT Davies said: “The First Minister’s relentless focus might be on improving the economy and public services, but it’s 17 years of Labour rule which has left Wales poorer and less equal.

Andrew RT Davies

“While it’s difficult to disagree with many of the commitments outlined in the programme for government, it does highlight the many areas in which the Labour Party has let down Wales since the dawn of devolution in 1999.

“As usual we are left with little by way of detail, and Carwyn Jones’ claim that Wales is punching above its weight is delusional. In spite of our many and varied talents, the evidence suggests that the exact opposite is true.

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“Under Labour, the Welsh education system ranks behind Vietnam; large swathes of Wales are poorer than parts of Bulgaria, Romania and Poland; and Welsh NHS waiting times are the longest in the UK.

“If the Labour Party thinks that Wales is punching above its weight, then they have a very low opinion of our country indeed.”

Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru AM for Ynys Mon, Rhun ap Iorwerth said: "The gulf between Labour's Programme for Government and Plaid Cymru's Programme for Opposition in terms of substance, scope and ambition could hardly be greater.

"It should come as no surprise that a lacklustre manifesto has led to a lacklustre programme for government.

"Yes, it's good to see the elements that Plaid Cymru drove through in our post-election one-off agreement, including a pledge to create 100,000 new apprenticeships and a new drugs and treatments fund, but Labour's lack of innovative ideas shines through again.

"In contrast, Plaid Cymru has put forward a comprehensive, fully-costed alternative with detailed proposals for improving the day to day lives of people in all parts of the country. "We are determined to act as a robust and responsible opposition, challenging Labour to do better, and holding them to account when they fail the people of Wales.

"Labour has to understand that they failed to win a mandate for business as usual in May’s Welsh election, and should expect a far stronger challenge from Plaid Cymru than they received from the Welsh Conservatives during the last Assembly."